During the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Donald Trump briefly rushed backstage due to reports of a shooting, although the event is still set to continue. He hasn’t left the venue and intends to make his way back to the stage, according to reports. A security official mentioned that an individual with a firearm tried to bypass the magnetometer at the Washington Hilton, and a countermeasure team effectively neutralized the situation. The Secret Service checked for additional threats and found none.
Witnesses described a scene of panic, with screams and gunfire prompting several attendees to take refuge under tables as Secret Service agents quickly evacuated the president, first lady, and other top officials from their seats. Agents armed themselves and searched the vicinity for any further threats.
Protests had taken place outside the venue earlier that evening, but it’s uncertain if those events were connected to the shooting incident.
One attendee, Brett Bey from Fox News, expressed concern, recounting, “I was really worried. I heard the gunshots and everyone jumped. Within seconds, the place was filled with Secret Service agents, guns drawn.”
Security swiftly escorted Trump from the room, with a White House official assuring that he, the first lady, and First Lady Caroline Leavitt are currently safe. Notably, this incident represents the first violent disruption of such a dinner in over a century.
This is a developing story and updates will follow.
